Editors' Review

Foxit PDF Reader, the program that many consider to be a faster, lighter, more able Windows alternative to Adobe Reader, has recently jumped to version 5.0. This newest release comes with many of the same solid features, a few new ones, and an upgraded interface.

As with the previous version, the setup process is a bit cumbersome. First, watch out for the two check boxes that make Ask your browser default search provider and Ask.com your home page. Opt out as necessary. Then, toward the end of the installation process, be sure to read carefully and opt out of the Addin for Mozilla FireFox, Opera, Safari and Chrome--unless, of course, you're into bloated toolbars. Once you make it through the installation gauntlet, the rest should be smooth sailing.

The new Foxit Reader 5.0 interface is a bit sleeker than in previous versions. It still has clean, easily distinguishable icons, and the toolbar is still customizable. In addition, you can now choose your color scheme (black, blue, orange, purple). It's not ground-breaking, but it's a nice touch. You can also choose a new ribbon-style menu and customize your own shortcut keys.

Foxit Reader 5.0 still includes many of the useful features that its rival, Adobe Reader, doesn't. There's tabbed PDF viewing, text-only view, rulers, Safe Mode, and several annotation tools for things like highlighting and commenting. Meanwhile, 5.0 has added a few conveniences that give it an extra edge, including XFA form filling, support for Microsoft RMS-protected files, and previews in Outlook.

Overall, we think the new Foxit Reader is a worthwhile download. While it may not be perfect--it can't create PDFs, and it pesters users with add-ons and upgrades--it's still a solid alternative to Adobe Reader.

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Publisher's Description

Foxit Reader 4 is designed for a broad spectrum of users including enterprise and government organizations. Foxit Reader is fully customizable to meet any organization business objective and its small footprint makes it easy to deploy. It is also packed with features not available in competitor's products. Foxit Reader's small footprint makes easy to update and maintain. Finally, Foxit Reader adheres to all ISO 32000 standards.

WAS a great alternative to adobe. I don't care how good you think your software is, you do not take over my computer. I control what I want on my computer. And it is NOT all the added stuff Foxit wants to install by default.

Summary

As someone mentioned earlier. Foxit's authors have gone over to the darkside. I'm done with their software.

I stopped using Adobe acrobat a long time ago when I discovered FoxIT was much lighter on resources. Have not looked back...Only wish there was a Flash alternative also, because we all know how awful Adobe Flash is.

I've been using this since 2007. Lightweight compare to adobe heavy on the load. And to those a couple of idiots having problem in ask toolbar you have to click decline not to accept so that it wont install.

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Thank You, !

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